When thoughts are still unseen, and words disguised;
Vows are not sacred held, nor promise debt;
By Passion, Reason's glory is surprised;
In neither sex is true love firmly set.
Thoughts feigned, words false, vows and promise broken,
Made True Love fly from earth! This is the token.
Mount, then, my thoughts! Here is for thee no dwelling,
Since Truth and Falsehood live, like twins, together.
Believe not Sense! eyes! ears! touch! taste! or smelling!
Both Art and Nature's forced! put trust in neither!
One only She, doth True Love, captive bind,
In fairest breast, but in a fairer mind.
O fairest mind, enriched with Love's residing,
Retain the best! In hearts, let some seed fall!
Instead of weeds, Love's fruits may have abiding,
At harvest, you shall reap increase of all!
O happy Love! More happy man, that finds thee,
Most happy Saint! that keeps, restores, unbinds thee!
Go, nightly cares! the enemy to rest!
Forbear, awhile, to vex my wearied sprite!
So long your weight hath lain upon my breast;
That lo! I live, of life bereavèd quite.
O give me time to draw my wearied breath!
Or let me die, as I desire the death!
Welcome, sweet Death! O life! no life, a hell!
Then thus, and thus, I bid the world, farewell.
False World! farewell! the enemy to rest!
Now do thy worst! I do not weigh thy spite.
Free from thy cares I live for ever blest,
Enjoying peace and heavenly true delight.
Delight, whom woes nor sorrows shall amate,
Nor fears or tears disturb her happy state,
And thus I leave thy hopes, thy joys untrue,
And thus, and thus, vain World! again, adieu!
To my loving countryman, Master John Forster, the younger, Merchant of Dublin in Ireland.
